Mario Balotelli was given a £1m bonus by Liverpool for not being sent off more than three times in a season, according to reports.

The 26-year-old signed for the Reds in August 2014 but scored just four goals in 28 appearances before being shipped out on loan to AC Milan the following season.

According to the Liverpool Echo, Balotelli's contract featured a number of a series of incentives aimed at making him behave "in a manner befitting of a Liverpool player".

His paperwork reportedly stated: "If during each season of the term of this contract the player is not dismissed from the field of play on three or more occasions for violent conduct, spitting at an opponent or any other person, for using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures and/or for dissent by word or action... then on the June 30 at the end of each season he shall receive a bonus payment of £1m."

Balotelli picked up seven yellow cards during the 2014-15 season and, after spending the following campaign in Serie A, saw his time at Anfield come to an end by being sold to French club Nice.